Process to Freedom

As you read these scriptures, ask God to speak to you from His Word.

Unburdened

Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish. Look on my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins. Psalm 25:17-18

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30

Restored

He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name. Psalm 23:3

Restore us, Lord God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved. Psalm 80:19

I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you. Isaiah 44:22

My sin had weighed me down through a yoke of slavery and burdened me – I carried a burden (baggage) of residue from all the experiences. All the experiences of my past had become a part of me and influenced how I carried myself, how I saw myself, and how I thought others saw me. When I committed to make different choices and follow God’s path, who I was before still played like a movie reel in my mind. This was a heavy burden I felt very tangibly. In layers, as I opened my hands around this past that I was clutching onto, Jesus took it, and showed me that before Him, I was utterly forgiven. He showed me that He saw me as if those choices had never been made.

Journal Entry, Age 25
My friend shared a picture she saw when we prayed: Jesus, You were encouraging me to GIVE YOU the huge bag that I’d been dragging around with me for so long. All You wanted me to carry was a flower. You held out a flower for me to take – with fuschia petals and a bright yellow center.

When memories come back and haunt you, or try to deceive you into thinking you’ll benefit from replaying them in your mind, remember that Jesus took them when He took that burden at the cross. He took all those experiences that weighed you down, and instead gave you His light and easy burden (in my case, a flower!).

Many people spend their lives being angry over what was done to them. As followers of Jesus, we can actually be washed, be free, love our enemies; where memories have no hold on us anymore.